7 Options of What To Do If Your Internship Is Canceled

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Alicia Rhodes, Assistant Director, Duke University Career Center

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This spring has been like none other as we all are managing transitions and adjusting to our temporary new normal for potentially the next few months or so. Many of you are probably wondering what may happen with your summer internships, especially if you have received communication that your internship would be canceled or if you have not received any communication at all. Here are some tips to help guide you through this process!

Check-In

If you have not heard from organizations you have applied to or if you’ve been in communication and it has abruptly ceased, remember that it is okay for you to follow-up with your contact within the organization. You can either contact them via phone or send an email, which seems to be the most popular route. In your conversation, make sure to express enthusiasm about the role, let them know that you understand that they may be busy (especially given the current circumstances), and inquire about the status of the hiring process. Hopefully this will initiate a conversation which will provide you more insight about the state of your candidacy.

Work Remotely

During this time period, the majority of organizations have provided employees the option to work remotely. You can inquire if this is an option which will be available for you. Believe it or not, there are quite a few internship programs which are accommodating interns to work remotely.

Re-strategize Your Search

You may find yourself restarting your internship search and starting from scratch. As you are identifying potential organizations to apply to, research and see if they offer the option to work remotely. To assist with this, CareerConnections has an updated feature, which will allow employers to choose whether or not working remotely is an option for a particular position. You can also search specifically for remote opportunities. If you would like assistance with your internship search, the Career Center is available to you by appointment or Drop-in Career Advising!

Be Creative

This is a great time to be creative and start your own business. If you’re not finding an internship or opportunity that will fit your needs, you can create your own opportunity. This will not only provide you with something great to do over the summer, but will also give you an amazing story to share with others.

Volunteer

During this time, a lot of communities may need help physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is a great chance for you to do some research and find out how you can make a difference in your own community.

Journal/Blog

Take some time and begin journaling or blogging! This is a reflective process in which you will be able to refine your writing skills and share stories with others. Writing can turn into a great hobby and career, which has the ability to reach a variety of people from different backgrounds.

Summer Courses

You can definitely take summer courses to continue your academic plan or simply study something that has fascinated you. LinkedIn Learning is still available to you and is another way to help you learn new information and skills!

If you find that you need assistance with your internship search or if you just need to talk through some things, feel free to schedule an online or phone appointment with a career adviser through CareerConnections!